Dean Bowditch is targeting the next home match for his return to Albion.

The Ipswich prospect hopes to be back at Withdean to boost the Seagulls' striker options for the visit of promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest a week on Saturday.

The loan transfer window re-opens tomorrow and Albion have already lined up a deal to borrow Bowditch for another month once the 20-year-old has made a full recovery from the groin injury which restricted his appearances in November and December.

Bowditch revealed: "It's getting a lot better but I don't want to do anything yet until I am properly fit. If I come back too early again then I will be out for longer.

"It is just an inflammation problem around the tendon, so I don't need surgery. Hopefully the Saturday after this one will be a good target. It depends how this week goes. I am going to do a bit of training and go from there."

A slump in form has turned Albion from play-off contenders into relegation candidates since Bowditch has been back at Portman Road for treatment but that has not put him off returning south.

He said: "I'd be more than happy to come back. They are a good bunch of lads. They are just going through a bit of a bad patch at the moment.

"They can't seem to stick it in the back of the net but that happens to teams, they have a good run and then hit a bit of a wall.

"I know they have got the character to bounce back and, most importantly, they have got the players to do it as well. Hopefully I can get back as soon as possible and help them out, because I fitted in quite well when I was there before."

Rotherham, who drew 0-0 with Albion at Withdean on Saturday, missed the chance to move off the bottom of League One last night when their match at home to Swansea was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

The match between Oldham and Blackpool was also a victim of the weather.

Albion are still 16th in the table after Northampton lost 1-0 away to Port Vale, who now have moved four points clear of the Seagulls. Danny Whitaker's strike just after half-time settled the contest.

Portuguese striker Marco Lopes, 30, starts a trial with Albion in the Reserves against Bournemouth at Worthing tonight (7pm).

The squad also includes recent French midfield signing Alexis Bertin and Tommy Fraser, who missed last Saturday's game with Rotherham through illness.

Albion Reserves (from): Sullivan, Martin, Hart, P. Hinshelwood, Elphick, Rents, Frutos, Bertin, Fraser, Carpenter, Loft, Elder, Gatting, Lopes, Cobbs, Skinner.